Visit Santa Cruz California

Santa Cruz is a touchy-feely, new-agey city famous for its leftie-liberal politics and easygoing ideology. Although dogs are rarely allowed off-leash and parking meters run seven days a week.

Santa Cruz is a city of fun, with a vibrant but chaotic downtown. On the waterfront is the famous beach boardwalk, and in the hills redwood groves embrace the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) campus. Plan at least half a day here, but to appreciate the aesthetic of jangly skirts, crystal pendants and Rastafarian dreadlocks, stay longer and plunge headlong into the rich local brew of surfers, students, punks and eccentric characters. A visit to Santa Cruz is a vacation worth doing. Keep reading and find all the information here you need to start planning your Santa Cruz vacation. For a list of all the area beaches << Click Here >>.

Weather (When to Go)

The best time to visit Santa Cruz is from September through November when the summer tourists have returned home, leaving a bit more room on the beaches, walking paths and other attractions. December, January and February see a slight dip in temperatures, which nonetheless are warm enough for the monarch butterflies who overwinter at Natural Bridges State Beach. The months between April and May are characterized by mounting temperatures and special events that meet their nexus in June, July and August.

Getting Around Santa Cruz

The best way to get around Santa Cruz is by a combination of driving and walking. Santa Cruz is far too large to get around on foot alone, but a mix of walking and driving gives you the flexibility to see the county on your own terms. The county’s public bus system is an option too, especially if you don’t want to deal with highway traffic or parking fees.

Getting To and From Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is 75 miles south of San Francisco via coastal Hwy 1 or Hwy 17, a nail-bitingly narrow, winding mountain road. Monterey is about an hour’s drive further south via Hwy 1.

Santa Cruz Airport Shuttles runs shared shuttles to/from the airports at San Jose ($50), San Francisco ($80) and Oakland ($80), with a $5 cash discount; the second passenger pays $10.

From late May through early September, the Santa Cruz Trolley shuttles between downtown and the beach from 11am until 9pm daily.

Santa Cruz Attractions

West Cliff Drive

This 3-mile walking and biking path offers some of the best views of the county – and it’s a great workout too. Along the way, you’ll be treated to pristine vistas of the Pacific Ocean and you might even spot some surfers riding the waves at Steamer Lane or whales and dolphins cresting the water at Lighthouse Point. You can also stop in to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum along your stroll, which is stationed inside the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse.

Santa Cruz Main Beach

Santa Cruz Main Beach is also known as Boardwalk Beach since it stretches the length of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. In the summer, it’s one of the busiest beaches in Santa Cruz thanks to its lengthy list of amenities, including lifeguards, restrooms, nearby food options and amusement park rides and games. During other seasons, it’s a popular place to take scenic strolls.

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Santa Cruz Wharf

The Santa Cruz Wharf dining and shopping district sits on the water of a nearly 100-year-old wharf and features all those gifts that coworkers and family members expect you to bring back, from locally made Marini’s Candies to Made in Santa Cruz apparel.

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Seymour Marine Discovery Center

The University of California, Santa Cruz’s Seymour Marine Discovery Center is an indoor and outdoor natural science museum. The center features an aquarium, complete with tanks housing rockfish, jellyfish and even a touch pool with sharks. Outside, travelers can see the skeletons of a blue whale and a gray whale, as well as 45 acres of California coastal ecosystems.

Roaring Camp Railroads

The same redwoods that awed passengers back in 1875 when the Roaring Camp Railroads opened are still doing so today. Roaring Camp, headquartered in Felton, California, takes visitors on train rides through the towering trees up to the summit of Bear Mountain or to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Visitors can also tour the train depot’s grounds, which include an old-fashioned general store, playing fields, a stage for special events and more.

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Things to do in Santa Cruz

California Classic Sail

Bring someone special or the whole gang for a private sail on the only classic charter boat in Santa Cruz. “Sarah” is a true classic, designed over 110 years ago built in wood and launched 2005. There are two ways to sail. You can buy tickets on one of our daily sails or charter the boat, and bring up to six. For more information call 831-325-0466 or 888-450-0667, or visit them on the web at California Classic Sail.

Kayak Connection

They offer kayak rentals & kayak tours every day. Also stand up paddling classes and rentals along with wetsuits & boogie boards. Beginners and families especially welcome. See you soon! For more information call 831-479-1121 or 831-454-6999, or visit them on the web at Kayak Connection.

Covewater Stand Up Paddle

You would like to learn how to paddle and have fun on a stand up paddle board in Santa Cruz? Covewater is the spot. Covewater Paddle Surf is the only fully dedicated stand up paddleboard (SUP) shop in Northern California. N#1 SUP shop since 2010, paddleboarding is their passion. They have the largest selection of board and they provide the best in stand-up paddling equipment & accessories, SUP classes and SUP rentals. Stand up and see the water from a whole new perspective! For more information call 831-600-7230, or visit them on the web at Covewater Stand Up Paddle.

Adventure Out

A premiere outdoor school offering surf camps, rock climbing classes, backpacking trips, mountain biking and wilderness survival skills instruction for public, private or group trips or classes. We share decades of wilderness experience while achieving our wildest adventures in the outdoors. For more information call 800-509-3954, or visit them on the web at Adventure Out.

Stagnaro Whale Watching & Fishing Trips

Monterey Bay’s oldest company with the newest yachts taking large and small, public and private groups on whale watching tours, family friendly deep sea fishing trips, sunset tours and much more- year round! For more information call 831-427-0230 or 800-979-3370, or visit them on the web at Stagnaro Whale Watching & Fishing Trips.

$$ – $$$ Zachary’s Restaurant

Home of the famous “Mike’s Mess” and our special homemade oatmeal- molasses bread, “from scratch” sourdough pancakes and much more!Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, children’s menu, beer/wine. Open Tues.-Sun. 7 am – 2:30 pm, Closed Mondays , including most holidays. reservations not accepted. For more information call 831-427-0646, or visit them on the web at Zachary’s Restaurant.

$$ – $$$ Linwood’s Bar & Grill at Chaminade

Featuring contemporary California cuisine capturing the rich flavors of the Central Coast. Menu features local products. We also offer a “Pooch Patio Menu” available 7 days a week! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, outdoor dining, children’s menu, beer/wine, full bar, sports TV, ocean view, banquet facilities, free wifi. Open daily, 11am – 11pm, including some holidays. reservations recommended. For more information call 831-475-5600, or visit them on the web at Linwood’s Bar & Grill at Chaminade.

Venus Spirits

Venus Spirits makes small batch whiskey, gin, aquavit and agave spirits using the highest quality organic ingredients. Visit them for a tasting or cocktail this weekend! For more information call 831-427-9673, or visit them on the web at Venus Spirits.

Pour Taproom

Old-world beer hall meets new-world wonders. With their unique self-pour tap wall sip a rich array of drinks and savor delicious food, amidst a laid-back, conversational atmosphere. With seventy taps on hand, and new selections tapped daily, they raise their glasses to the marriage of craft tradition and innovation. Their open layout and community-style redwood tables make their beer hall is the perfect place to meet an old friend or make a new one. Lunch, Dinner, beer/wine. Mon-Sat: 12:00 noon – 11 p.m., Sun: 12 noon – 7 p.m., including some holidays. reservations not accepted. For more information call 831-535-7007, or visit them on the web at Pour Taproom.

40 Comments

I’ve heard a lot about Santa Cruz but have yet to visit there. I love everything about California and if I was ever to move from Florida (which I absolutely love) California would be the place.
You present so many beautiful places to see that it would almost impossible to see them all.
But Santa Cruz looks gorgeous and would be a memorable trip! On the list it goes!
Please stop posting these! LOL Just kidding
Maybe this September we will make this trip!

Fantastic article, I really enjoyed the reading!
I’ve never been to Santa Cruz, and one of my family members lives there, which is my ant. I would like to visit her very soon, but I don’t want to stay at her house. Just say hello and spend some time together. She might bring us to great places too:) Anyway, as you said above, September would be a great time to travel to Santa Cruz. I’ll already check for a hotel and a flight. I am still hesitating, what would you suggest to pack? I have a hard time to decide:)

September is a great time to go an you will want to take along your summer clothes, as well as a light jacket. Also make sure you take some comfortable walking shoes. I am sure your aunt will show you a great time!

Well, first of all I really want to give u a big round of applause for all the lovely posts you share. I dont think we need any tourist agency or guide when we have you and your amazing work. I am a regular views of your website and I have recommend it to a lot of my friends. Santa Cruz Also seems so so attractive. Thank you my amazing and best tourist Guide for sharing your work 🙂

You are very welcome Sarah, and I do appreciate your continued support and visits to beach travel destinations. Santa Cruz and the whole area is just chock full of beautiful beaches and things to do for those who want something besides just a beach day.

Oooh, that beach looks busy.
For a minute I kinda felt I was already there LOL.
I really love beaches.
The Marine Discovery Center. What I’m looking at right now; is that the picture of a blue whale or a gray whale?

I do believe that is a blue whale 🙂 I have not been to the Marine Discovery Center yet, not sure why I didn’t stop in there. But I think if you are in the Santa Cruz area, it is a must….besides all the beautiful beaches of course 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my Visit Santa Cruz California post.

I really love everything about the set up of your page here. Its very well organized and easy to read. The pictures are beautiful and your descriptions are great. The drone video is like the cherry on top, well done.

My girlfriend and I have actually been planning a Californian holiday later in there so this article was a very valuable read, absolutely everything I could think of that I would need to know prior to a trip to Santa Cruz was present in your article, very well categorized and easy on the eye.

i will be checking up on your site again to see some of your new content, love your site, have a good one!

I visited Santa Cruz once about 10 years ago in the so I’m sure its changed a lot. But I loved it at the time, it was so alive and fun. I visited during August and it was packed! I am desperate to go again, I live in the UK and it’s expensive to fly to the west coast! However, it definitely in the plans. Thanks for the list of things to do there- now I see that we didn’t plan it quite as we should have last time. Kayaks or paddles would have been awesome! Next time:)

Wow, thank you for such a detail post about Santa Cruz, CA. I have hear that the beach in CA are beautiful but this area on your list is breathtaking. The information provide on places to visit, things to do, area to enjoy and activities available is really is outstanding. Makes me want to make arrangements right now, but unfortunately funds at the moment are short but I will certainly be ready for the coming after Aug 2019. I usually travel alone. So my question is do you know if their any available packages for “solo” travelers? I do not drive so know that public transportation is available is good to know!

Lately I have been thinking of seeing more of the USA since most of my travels have been outside of the USA. Staring with California sound like a good idea and it will give me time to set everything up. I will certainly book mark your website and give it a more in depth look and read some of your other posts.

I really enjoyed this article. You really pained a great picture of Santa Cruz. If I had the money and my wife was not so nervous flying I would really love to visit. I heard from people about Santa Cruz but from what I had heard I always thought that it was a place for young people but after reading this article I can see that this place has so much to offer.

Yes David, Santa Cruz does have so much to offer and for any age group. It is a wonderful coastal community. I hope maybe one day you can take a vacation here and experience this great part of California. Thanks for visiting!

Your friend is right, California really is beautiful and if you love beach travel, then this is one of the places in the USA you have to visit. Of Course Florida is high on my list as well. Thanks for reading my visit Santa Cruz California post.

Santa Cruz California is no doubt a beautiful city with so many things to do I have always wanted to go California for scuba diving and I have been planning my vacation based on just that but this post has given me more than one reason to visit Santa Cruz California. Thanks for this I wish to start packing awaiting my vacation to California.

You’ve Just created a wonderful scene of Santa Cruz in my mind, now I’ve have to think of a vacation. Well detailed article, thank you for this piece but the highway and parking fees shouldn’t affect tourist? What do you feel? Santa Cruz California should be a place I’ll love to go one of these days.

Hi – thanks for sharing this inspiring article. I love the way you describe the eccentric characters there, definitely my kind of place. There seem to be loads of things to do, not just in the immediate area, but not too far away. The wharf district looks interesting, shopping and dining are always a great way of spending a day. The sunset yacht trip sounds lovely and romantic, but I think my boyfriend would prefer a visit to the Craft Beer House! All the best, Diane

Great and highly descriptive post, I found your description of Santa Cruz city very exciting and nice. How about the expenses? Is it safe for family vacation? And how often can one meet strangers from other part of The world ?I am really considering this wonderful city for my next vacation. Thank you.

This is a great place to take a family Clement. And yes, you will find a wide variety of people and travelers to this area, so there will be no shortage of that. Thanks for reading Visit Santa Cruz California.

Thanks for this great post! I’ve been to Santa Cruz only once in my life (I’m 42). The sad part is, it’s not that far from where I live near Sacramento. We hit the beach and the wharf (man the food is awesome there) but I haven’t really seen Santa Cruz.

I’d love to try out the Roaring Camp Railroads. I bet that’d be a fun excursion. Have you been to Fort Bragg and taken the Skunk Train? I wonder if it’s anything like that. I enjoyed it a lot.

Thanks again, I’m overdue for a trip. Maybe Santa Cruz is a spot for me to hit again.

Oh wow! You do live close! Yes, the food is awesome, I will agree 🙂 Besides a good beach, I love good food 🙂 I have not been on the Skunk Train. I guess I didn’t have enough time the last time we drove thru there.

Hi Leahrae – great post about visiting Santa Cruz, makes me want to catch a flight, get out of the snow, and head there right now. You have provided so much information about what to see and do. What restaurants to go to and what hotels to stay in. This article is a great resource for anyone who is planning a trip to Santa Cruz.

The Santa Cruz main beach looks absolutely stunning, seems it’s a great beach to visit all year round. Santa Cruz looks like it’s a must place to holiday, so much to do, your list of activities seems endless. I must admit it was not a place to visit on my bucket list but it is now!!

The whole Santa Cruz area is just beautiful with so many beach options, if you love beach travel that is. But, besides the wonderful beaches there is a great atmosphere, great food, and so much to see and do. Thanks for the visit Dianne.